State Rep. Matt Gabler presented Dickinson Mental Health Center (DMHC) yesterday morning with an award from the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) Seal of Excellence for successfully completing the Standards for Excellence certification program.
“This is a rigorous certification to obtain,” Gabler said.
DMHC participated in a voluntary peer review by PANO which examined the organization for compliance with its Standards for Excellence; An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector.
The Standards of Excellence are based on fundamental values such as honesty, integrity, fairness, respect, trust, responsibility and accountability. DMHC programs and services, management, fundraising and financial practices were found to meet or exceed all standards for this certification status. DMHC is one of the first organizations to be certified under the standards program, which began in 2002 in Pennsylvania.
“The PANO application and certification review process was exceptionally rigorous and one which challenged our organization and its performance standards to excel at the highest levels possible in all service areas and programming,” said Jack Goga, chief executive officer at DMHC. “We consider this certification award as a distinct honor and accomplishment, and as importantly an embodiment of our employees' compassion, excellence in service, and commitment to supporting others in their recovery from serious mental health conditions.
“PANO's Standards for Excellence include fundamental values which are embedded in our own organizational culture and represent who we are as a behavioral health provider, this is as much an award for its employees as it is for Dickinson itself.”